DECEASED - KILLED ON DAY 17 FullName: Adrianna Sanders From (Hometown): Miami, Florida Gender: Female Ethnicity: Caucasian Traits (Appearance): Adrianna has long, wavy brunette hair. Her piercing blue eyes stand out against her tan skin. She has a petite figure, and averages off at about 5 foot 4 inches. Reason for coming on the plane: As a birthday present, Adrianna's wealthy uncle agreed to pay for a trip anywhere in the world. She wanted to make it a trip of a lifetime, so she decided to travel to Rio, Brazil. The enthusiastic and colorful culture there would be a perfect place for taking pictures. Brief History (Criminal record, past): Adrianna grew up surrounded by the buzz of the city life. Her family was (and still is) very outgoing, which helped develop her charismatic personality. Her parents loved to travel, so she experienced many trips to new places during her childhood. Anything else: She is a recent college graduate, age 22. She has a passion for photography, whether it's taking pictures for herself or for her job.
DAY ONE
My eyes were still closed, but my other senses soon began to register my surroundings as I regained consciousness. I could hear the distant call of birds, and I could smell the distinct scent of salt water. My body ached with every toss and turn I made. It was obvious I was no longer in my warm bed, so I squinted my eyes open. I felt as if every groggy muscle in my body would give away if I attempted to stand up, which helped me easily decide to stay laying on the ground. My head was tilted at an uncomfortable angle, but it provided me with a perfect view of where I was. In the distance, I saw a lush tropical forest and a river. I turned my attention down below and watched peacefully as clear blue waves came crashing down on white sands. For some reason, it was at that moment that memories of the plane crash rushed into my mind and caused me to lose any thought of tranquility. A sudden jolt of anxiety seemed to flood my veins and take over my body. I'm not supposed to be here I thought. The island was a monster with a pretty face, I knew it was deceivingly dangerous. My body tempted me to stay motionless on the ground. However, I needed to search for other survivors. I forced myself to stand, and began walking alongside the water. Everything's going to be okay I thought, all in an attempt to convince myself that was true.
DAY TWO
I limped alongside of the ocean, tried to put pressure on my injured leg, and attempted to make it look as if I wasn't injured. I failed. Every rest stop I took, my muscles thanked me, but my stomach punished me. God, I was parched and starving, and who knew how severe my dehydration was. I looked ahead, and noticed a trail of footprints leading into the forest. I'm not the only survivor I thought, almost with a sense of relief.
"Hello?" I called out. I waited a moment or two, but didn't receive any form of response. I forced myself to get up once again, and limped over to the forest. I squinted my eyes, and tried to make out any form of human trespassing as I peered into the dark area. The footprints seemed to fade off as they abandoned the sand of the beach, which left me with no trail to follow. I grunted with frustration, and an overwhelming amount of anger and sadness bubbled up inside of me. I closed my eyes as my hands began to shake, and tears rolled down my face. I exploded with emotion, and let out an agonizing scream. The sound tore through my surroundings. Filled with fear and distress, my scream echoed through the trees. I felt defeated, hopeless, and isolated. My body collapsed, and I hit the ground with exhaustion.
DAY THREE
Help. That's all I can think about as I run through the forest. Ever since that voice woke me up, the voice that belonged to the Lieutenant General, I've been running in search of the plane crash. He's offering help, and guidance for any of the survivors out there. It's the first sign of hope I've seen since I've landed on this island, and I'm not going to deny an offer like that.
I see a clearing in the trees ahead of me, and the last bit of adrenaline I have coursing through my body allows me to guide my injured self there. I place my hand on the trunk of the palm tree, and peer down onto the beach below. The sight of the plane wreck is horrendous. Burned portions are scattered everywhere, and the plane is pretty much completely destroyed. I shudder at the thought of the crash.
I see many people at the scene, and the sight provides me with a sense of relief. I'm not alone. I limp down towards the people, and I flash my eyes to every individual. I recognize a lot of them, and my stomach turns when I see some of their injuries. With the lack of food and energy, and the sight of all of the blood, I cant even imagine how pale my face must be. I need to sit down I think, and that's exactly what I do. I drop my face in my hands, and hope that good change is soon to come.
DAY FOUR
"Adrianna? is - is that you?" I heard someone say.
I lifted my head up in response, and my eyes landed on Dr. Beatrice Black. I gasped as I remembered running into her at the airport before any of us had boarded the plane. I stood up, shakily, and tried my best to run over to her. Relief filled my body knowing that I had now seen a familiar face. Her eyes landed on my injured leg, which caused her eyes to widen and eyebrows to raise. However, I dismissed her thoughts with a wave of my hand. I wanted to be strong, I knew there were many other survivors who were much more injured than I was. That was definitely evident on my walk down to the crash yesterday. Her face still looked slightly worried, and I'm sure her mind was filled with medical assumptions and thoughts.
"Oh thank god!" I practically yelled when I reached her. As I put all of my weight on one leg, I quickly lost my balance, which resulted in me sitting back on the sand.
She looked down at me sympathetically, and a slight smile soon formed on her face.
"I can help" she simply stated.
DAY FIVE
I waited patiently on the shore of the beach, and stared out over the ocean. My legs were still tucked up against my chest, and I had my arms wrapped around them. The doctor should be back soon. She left to go search for materials in order to make a splint for my injured leg, and I couldn't be more thankful. Things seem to be coming together lately. Ryan Hounsome was able to bring many people together, and hopefully there aren't many people still out on their own. I feel a tap on my shoulder, and look up to see that Beatrice Black has returned from her trip.
"Thank you for doing this" I smile
"Its really no problem at all, I'm glad to be a help" she responds.
I look out to the water again as she applies the wood and other materials to my leg. I can almost instantly feel the support it gives my leg once she is finished. I placed my hands on either side of me, and pushed myself off of the ground. I braced myself, expecting jolts of pain to shoot throughout my body. However, I was surprised to know that only a dull ache was now present. I threw my hands in air and let out an enthusiastic yell.
"WOOHOO! ah yes this is great!" I said as I grinned broadly. Some of the other survivors glanced over in my direction with puzzled looks, and some of them chuckled. I didn't care, because good things finally seemed to be unraveling, and there's nothing wrong with bringing some optimism to this island.
DAY SIX
My body shook and convulsed uncontrollably. I jolted awake, and my panicked pulse was ringing in my ears. My skin was crawling with goosebumps, and my hands were incapable of being steadied. I stared at my hands as if they were strangers, and wondered what had caused me to wake up so suddenly.
I turned my attention at the black abyss above, and allowed my eyes to travel to the brightest stars. My breathing eventually steadied, and I glanced around the beach only to realize that everyone else was still fast asleep. I closed my eyes, all in an attempt to relax myself, however my mind prevented me from doing so. My ears seemed to pick up the slightest of noises. Something felt off. My body was telling me I wasn't safe, however there was no evidence of anything threatening. I kept telling myself it was only a figment of my imagination, but at the same time I wanted to believe that that wasn't true. I rolled over onto my side, and begged for morning to arrive faster. My ears tuned into a loud cracking sound, which caused my stomach to drop with the sudden rush of nerves. Okay, I definitely didn't imagine that I thought. I held my breath, and fiddled with my thumbs nervously. My imagination filled my thoughts with frightening scenarios that I didnt want to believe, so I turned my head in search of the source of the noise. However, I was only greeted by the infinite darkness of the forest.
DAY SEVEN
I somehow made it through the night without losing my mind. I wasn't able to sleep for hours. I watched both the sunset, and the sunrise. When some of the other survivors began waking up, I decided it was a good time to get myself up as well. I needed to be productive. My injured leg and running thoughts have really held me back since we got here, so I told myself that this was going to be the day things would change. The splint on my leg offered constant support, so that was one less problem I had to worry about. However, its my mind that has been constantly distracting me. How are people not going crazy here? Isnt everyone wondering the same thing? Willwe be getting saved?
I really needed to clear my mind from any negative thoughts, so I walked down to the water's edge. The waves crashed down before me and erupted in a mist of white foam. Most people in society would consider the sound of the ocean as one of the most relaxing sounds out there. Before this whole plane crash, I wouldn't have even hesitated to agree to that statement. However, the sound now seemed to almost taunt me. Every movement of the water reminded me of how isolated and alone we truly were. After all, isn't it the ocean that is keeping us trapped here on this island? Stop it, think positively I told myself. I sighed, and turned around to head back to the group of survivors. Hopefully we would increase our chances of surviving and get saved, but for now all I could do was help others, and keep myself distracted.
DAY EIGHT
I laid on my back, and my arms were crossed behind my head. The ocean water gently swept accross my feet with every oncoming wave. I stared at the sunset, patiently dreading the long and sleepless night that was soon to come. I closed my eyes, and hoped for sleep, but knew that the attempt would only fail. However, my eyes remained shut. I tried my hardest to not let horrible ideas enter my mind, but even if they did, my thoughts were eventually interrupted with something bumping against my foot. At first, I thought nothing of what it was, but with the next wave, the object was pushed into my foot once again. I opened my eyes out of curiosity, and my gaze fell onto a bottle.
I quickly sat up and grabbed it before the tide could carry it back out to sea. It was closed with a cork, and inside it contained a rolled up piece of paper. It seemed as though the message in the bottle came right out of a movie, and I wasted no time in opening it. I pulled the paper out, and slowly unraveled it. My mouth dropped open with utter surprise. It was a newsletter, and the front headline consisted of an article about the plane crash. Our plane crash. My heart began to beat faster. What did this mean? Why would someone put this in a bottle and send it out to sea? I desperately needed to show the others.
DAY NINE
A passenger jet departed out of Miami International Airport early last week. However, it was soon declared as a missing plane once all communication was mysteriously cut off. Search parties were sent out early the next morning, but no signs of the flight were discovered until three days later. Wreckage and debris was found over seventy miles away from any land mass. Officials are still unsure of what caused the crash, but it has been confirmed that there are no survivors. All rescue parties have since been called off.
I rolled up the newspaper article, and delicately placed it back into the glass bottle. My expression was evident of complete shock. The governments and media are lying to the public about what happened to us. Everyone thinks we are dead. My family thinks I am dead. All recue parties have been called off. That single line burns up any last bit of hope I might still have been holding onto. We aren't going to get rescued, and the entire world doesn't know the truth.
DAY TEN
Tears stream down my face as I run up to my mother and she squeezes me with a hug. "I thought I lost you" she whispers, as her voice cracks from emotion. I don't respond, I am at a complete loss for words. I never thought I would see her again, but yet here I am now. I never want to leave her arms, and she doesn't let me go. At this moment, I can truly say I am relieved. I made it, I'm home, and I'm safe.
I blink my eyes open, and squint from the intense sunlight. My face is stained from tears, and my stomach drops when I feel the sand beneath me. I feel like screaming and crying all at the same time, but I remain motionless on the beach. The dream felt so feel, and it almost seems like I can still feel the warmth from her hug. I clutch the glass bottle to my chest, and take deep breaths. I finally gain enough motivation to move myself from the ground, and I begin walking. My mind is racing with thoughts and memories. My right hand is still tightly wrapped around the bottle as I march right up to the center of camp. Some people glance in my direction, I pop the cork off of the bottle, and pull out the piece of paper.
DAY ELEVEN
My mind races as I reread the article over and over. There is nothing I can do that will change this. My family and friends have all probably read it by now, so from now on I will only be known as dead to them. There is no way for me to send them the good news that there have been survivors. I can’t tell them that I have somehow kept myself alive on a stranded island, and I can’t tell them I will be returning home safely. I can’t even tell myself that. I’m here stuck on this island, wishing to only be reunited with my loved ones. Yet somehow, my family is stuck in society, only wishing to be reunited with me. Who is the real isolated one? Because without them, I am truly detached from my happiness. Why is it so difficult for me to think positively? Almost as quickly as I ask myself that question, the answer dawns on me. I cannot think positive thoughts when my life feels so empty.
DAY TWELVE
I decided I needed to go for a walk through the island to clear my mind. I walked along the shore, allowing my feet to slip into the water as the waves rushed onto the sands. I glanced up, and noticed some of the other survivors ahead of me. A girl was asleep on the ground, and a yound man stood nearby. I approached the guy, and mimicked his glare over the vast ocean. "The ocean is so big" I said. He glanced over at me, and we talked about how difficult it was going to be to get off of the island. I personally knew it wasn't possible to leave. He introduced himself to me as Grant, and I responded by introducing myself as well. A thought soon dawned on him. "can I ask you a question?" he said upfront. "sure" I replied "What are your thoughts on Ryan Hounsome?" he asked. That caught me off-guard. What did I think of Ryan Hounsome? I repeated his question in my mind, and really searched for my true answer. "Well..." I began "I'm definetly a little suspicious of him. How can anyone not be? He seems to have everything perfectly organized, and that just doesn't make sense in my mind. We experienced a severe, unfortunate event. We're lucky to be alive! No one can keep everything in order after a situation like that, and after all of the talk i've heard about that guy Wrennyn, I don't know what to think. I guess I don't know enough about him to make assumptions" I said innocently. His question really made me think. Are all of the survivors trustworthy?
DAY THIRTEEN
Grant and I continued our conversation, and soon another girl came over to stand with us. Grant leaned down to kiss her on her head. They obviously had something going on between the two of them, and seeing their affection towards each other only clarified the fact that they were caring people. That provided me with a sense of trust towards them. After denying Grant's offer to go surfing, I was left alone with the other girl. We introduced ourselves to each other, and I learned that her name was Jackie. She had such a pleasant attitude, and it felt so nice to finally socialize with another girl. She too seemed very curious about my opinion of the Lieutenant, and soon asked "So Adrianna, sorry for being so blunt, but I just got to ask. If shit hits the fan on this island, are you going to side with Hounsome?" I paused, and thought her question over. I explained my feelings and suspicions to her, just like how I explained them to Grant earlier. As the words left my mouth, I couldn't help but wonder if Jackie and Grant felt the same way about him. What if they disagreed? Eventually Grant finished surfing, and came back over to us. He gave us questioning looks, obviously curious about what we were talking about. Jackie's eyes darted to mine, and each of us responded to Grant with innocent smiles. "Oh nothing, just girl talk, ya know" Jackie said I definitely have a good feeling about these two, unlike some of the impressions the others give me.
DAY FOURTEEN
Grant, Jackie and I stayed on the beach for a while. We spent most of our time getting to know each other. The more I found out about these two, the more I realized how comfortable I was with them. I found out that Grant was also from Miami, he even lived in an area around my home. I tried thinking back to before the plane crash, and wondered if we ever crossed paths. I didn't think so. Jackie went on to explain how she grew up in Hawaii. She talked about her move to Colorado, and her family. I didn't say much about myself, only talked about my hobbies and trips I've been on in the past. I avoided talking about my family. Ever since being on the island, that topic was too hard for me to think about. Throughout our entire discussion, questions filled my mind regarding their opinions of the other survivors. The conversation we had seemed to be a relief from reality for the two of them. They seemed to be able to forget our present situation and uncertainties when they reminisced about the things they loved. I hesitated to ask them anything that would draw them back to their senses, since the both of them appeared so uplifted. I didn't want to ruin that for them. I decided I would ask when a better time came.
DAY FIFTEEN
I awoke to the sound of Jackie's movement. She was mumbling some things to herself, something was clearly wrong. I sat up, and wiped my exhausted eyes. She noticed I was awake, but that didn't stop her from hiding the concern in her face. She answered my thoughts before I even had time to notice that Grant was missing. Her determination to find him was clearly evident, and she immediately formed a plan. "I am going out into the forest that leads to the little island, you can take the other half. We need to find him as fast as possible and this is the quickest way to do it." she said in a rush.
With that statement, she turned and headed in the direction of the island she was going to search. I remained sitting in the sand with a puzzled expression. Due to just waking up, it took my mind a minute to comprehend what was happening. If Grant was leaving somewhere, he would have told us. Right? I thought to myself. I quickly stood up, and began jogging in the opposite direction from Jackie. She had good reasoning. Both of us searching different areas would cover more land in less time. If Grant was in trouble, and something dangerous happened to him, wouldn't it be bad to split up? My mind continued to wander, as did I, as I searched for Grant.
I put both of my hands around my mouth and called out his name. My voice echoed around me, loud enough for me to realize that maybe yelling wasn't the best idea. Who knew what kind of people or creatures shared these woods with me.
The uncertainty of Grant's situation caused me to quicken my pace. I ran through the forest, dodged trees, and used them to push myself onward. I heard strange noises that I couldn't identify come from some of my surroundings. I could tell they were distant, but whatever created them had to be large enough to allow me to hear them from this far. Whatever it was, it didn't worry me. My only priority right now was to make sure we were all okay, and that needed to start with finding Grant.
DAY SIXTEEN
Step by step, Grant and I snuck through the forest. My eyes scanned my surroundings, and I carefully calculated each spot I placed my feet. Our movements were soft and quiet, perfectly synced in order to lessen our chances of being seen. The woods were a breeding ground for problems. Someone could be around the corner at any moment, and the recent disappearance of many survivors made me wary of others. Something was obviously at blame for such a fast increase of deaths.
Grant motioned to me with his hands. We had an unspoken understanding between us that our voices could blow our cover at any moment. With that, we only communicated with whispers and body language.
A scream rippled through the air around us, as if it came right out of a nightmare. The poor girl that the scream belonged to begged for mercy. Her shrieking pleas caused my stomach to twist in knots, and Grant's body to tense. After exchanging questioning looks, he snuck in the direction of sound. I crouched down, and watched as he peered through a nearby bush. His body froze, and fear and curiosity took over mine. I made my way over to him, but his focus remained locked onto whatever was beyond the bush. My presence startled him.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you" I exclaimed, my voice barely a whisper.
His words came out in a rush. As he spoke, my eyes focused to the scene behind him. A young girl's body littered the ground, her identity unrecognizable.
“You scared the living shit out of me. Look we have to move now, this girl was murdered on the other side of these bushes, and we have to get out of here… unless you want to be next?” Grant replied.
I peered around me, no corner of the forest looked safe.
"That way" I said, as I pointed in a direction where the trees seemed less dense. Grant followed behind me.
The forest was immensely quiet. The silence was deafening, and so unusual that it almost seemed unnatural. The memory of the girl's scream rang in my mind. It played on constant repeat, and I cringed every time the image of her body surfaced in my thoughts.
We continued heading in the same direction, increasing the distance between the abandoned crime scene and our backs. The trees slowly began to clear, however they were still dense enough to conceal us. From where we crouched, we were given a perfect vantage point.
A lump formed in my throat.
"Grant..." My voice quivered as I said his name.
I raised my hand, and extended my forefinger, pointing in the direction of which we came. His eyes followed my hand, and landed on a dark, cloaked figure in the distance. The figure's back was turned to us, but a large notebook could be seen at it's side. It was at the scene of the dead girl.
I looked down at my hands as I held them in front of me. Confusion masked my face with each examine I made of my hands. I turned them over, and back again. Well this is odd I thought. I stood up and began walking in the direction of the beach, ever since today, its felt as if a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. Actually, this is the best I've felt in a long long time. When I finally reached the ocean, I paused, and stretched out my arms as I inhaled the refreshing scent of salt water, and as wind blew my hair. I sighed a satisfied sigh, and made my way into the water. I bent over and dipped my hands into the waves, but soon my face turned cross. I scrubbed my hands repeatedly, but the appearance of them never changed. My hands were hint lighter than the Miami-tan i was used to having, but they looked healthy as ever. All of the scars and scratches i received at the island had mysteriously vanished, and my skin seemed to glow with health.
I shook my head, and convinced myself that it was all apart of my imagination. After all, looking and feeling healthy definitely isn't a bad thing.
I cupped my hands together, and scooped up the cool ocean water. I closed my eyes, brought my hands to my face, and anticipated the refreshing water to cleanse my skin. Soon enough, i heard a light splash as the water left my hands. I opened one eye and looked down out of curiosity. My hands were still cupped, but i haven't yet brought them all the way to my face yet.
I bent down once again, and scooped up some more water. The water remained in my grasp for a short time, but after a few seconds, it seemed to magically fall right through my flesh, and back into the ocean. Okay i'm obviously not imagining this I said to myself.
I took a step back from the water, and looked down at the rest of my body. My skin resembled the healthy glow of my hands. What caused this change?
DAY EIGHTEEN (DECEASED)
I needed to talk to Grant to see if he was experiencing things similar to me. I walked back up to the tree where Grant and I were, but something caught my attention. Engraved in the bark of the tree was my name, and beside the tree was Grant's surfboard, also engraved. Seeing the markings troubled me, I didn't write that, and I knew Grant didn't either. Besides, they almost appeared to resemble a memorial, as if we were being honored or remembered. That's when it clicked. That's why I appeared and felt so much healthier. It all made sense now.
I'm dead.
I dropped down to my knees and anticipated the tears and emotion to come flooding out of me, but those raw feelings never came. I felt as if I were supposed to feel that way, but something was preventing me. Is it true that pain and suffering are absent after death? I got off of my knees and sighed. Where was Grant then?
In the distance, between the trees that made up the forest, I saw a small sliver of light. It was blinding, and I was forced to squint and use my hand to shield myself from the intense glow. I took a step towards it, and it began to shimmer. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, I couldn't resist walking closer to it.
It appeared to be suspended in the air, and when I finally reached the light, it expanded. My surroundings and I were engulfed by the immense glow, and when I looked up, everything had changed. I was no longer on the island, but rather a place much more beautiful.
DAY NINETEEN (DECEASED)
My mouth hung open in awe. I was surrounded by beautiful structures and beautiful people. Everyone appeared so happy, and I gotta say, i felt ecstatic. I assumed this place was heaven, and I felt a sudden urge to run around and explore each and every corner of this place. I took one step forward, slightly hesitant due to the number of faces turning in my direction. I could hear whispers among the people.
"Look its someone new" A man bent down and said to a woman.
"Isn't she from the island?" two girls gossiped.
"Welcome" a voice much closer to me said. I was pulled back to my senses and focused my eyes on the individual in front of me. Oh wow I thought. I adjusted my eyes slightly upward, and locked eye contact with an angel. The young woman floated in front of me, her large majestic white wings supporting her every moment. They slowly opened and closed with such power and beauty, and in the hands of the angel was a large golden book.
"Hello" I said shyly, with a hint of confusion in my voice.
"Welcome to heaven" the angel smiled "My name is Diem. I am here to guide you" she explained. Her voice was so soothing and motherly, and I instantly felt safe in her presence.
I smiled a shy childish smile "My name is-"
"Oh I know who you are sweetheart. Don't worry, heaven has big plans for you. Ill show you around"
Diem wrote something down in the large book, and held her hand out for me to grab it. It was time to adjust to living the lavish Heaven lifestyle.
DAY TWENTY (DECEASED)
Diem guided me through the white stoned roads of heaven. No matter where we were, or who was surrounding us, I couldn't help but notice the faces turning in my direction. I would be lying if I said it didn't bother me, I wasn't used to all the attention, but I tried my hardest to just focus on what Diem showed me.
"Don't worry about them hun, they're just curious that's all" She said, with a reassuring smile. I nodded my head slightly in response, although still a little uncomfortable. We walked, or flew in Diem's case, to the center of what appeared to be a plaza. A large sparkling white fountain occupied the middle, and small groups of people were seen socializing. I assumed this to be center of town.. in heaven. I was still trying to wrap the whole concept of heaven around in my mind, it was such an awestruck place, it took my breath away, but i couldn't get over how lifelike it seemed. I felt as if i had only traveled abroad and surrounded myself in a new culture, not died.
On the opposite side of the fountain was a large building. Its walls were lined with white marble columns, and large stairs lead up to its entryway. It appeared to be a building of importance, and the grand doors shielded my eyes from seeing what we beyond the walls. I stared at the building as Diem continued rattling off information about the people, but soon she stopped me. We faced the building, our feet at the bottom of the stairs, and she turned to face me.
"Now Adrianna" she stated, with a much more serious tone "This building is where I leave you. You have a very big decision to make in there, and if you decide to leave, you must promise me to never speak of what you have seen here today. If you decide to stay, I look forward to seeing you again. I hope my business with you will help make the decision process easier, good luck" She finished with a tiny smile, but I didn't miss the worried look she had beforehand.
My stomach turned in knots as I turned toward the building and took my first step. I had no idea what laid before me, and i had no idea what i was getting myself into. But as i climbed the stairs, Diem's words from earlier repeated over and over again in my mind. Heaven has big plans for you
DECEASED - KILLED ON DAY 17
Full Name: Adrianna Sanders
From (Hometown): Miami, Florida
Gender: Female
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Traits (Appearance): Adrianna has long, wavy brunette hair. Her piercing blue eyes stand out against her tan skin. She has a petite figure, and averages off at about 5 foot 4 inches.
Reason for coming on the plane: As a birthday present, Adrianna's wealthy uncle agreed to pay for a trip anywhere in the world. She wanted to make it a trip of a lifetime, so she decided to travel to Rio, Brazil. The enthusiastic and colorful culture there would be a perfect place for taking pictures.
Brief History (Criminal record, past): Adrianna grew up surrounded by the buzz of the city life. Her family was (and still is) very outgoing, which helped develop her charismatic personality. Her parents loved to travel, so she experienced many trips to new places during her childhood.
Anything else: She is a recent college graduate, age 22. She has a passion for photography, whether it's taking pictures for herself or for her job.
DAY ONE
My eyes were still closed, but my other senses soon began to register my surroundings as I regained consciousness. I could hear the distant call of birds, and I could smell the distinct scent of salt water. My body ached with every toss and turn I made. It was obvious I was no longer in my warm bed, so I squinted my eyes open. I felt as if every groggy muscle in my body would give away if I attempted to stand up, which helped me easily decide to stay laying on the ground. My head was tilted at an uncomfortable angle, but it provided me with a perfect view of where I was. In the distance, I saw a lush tropical forest and a river. I turned my attention down below and watched peacefully as clear blue waves came crashing down on white sands. For some reason, it was at that moment that memories of the plane crash rushed into my mind and caused me to lose any thought of tranquility. A sudden jolt of anxiety seemed to flood my veins and take over my body. I'm not supposed to be here I thought. The island was a monster with a pretty face, I knew it was deceivingly dangerous. My body tempted me to stay motionless on the ground. However, I needed to search for other survivors. I forced myself to stand, and began walking alongside the water. Everything's going to be okay I thought, all in an attempt to convince myself that was true.DAY TWO
I limped alongside of the ocean, tried to put pressure on my injured leg, and attempted to make it look as if I wasn't injured. I failed. Every rest stop I took, my muscles thanked me, but my stomach punished me. God, I was parched and starving, and who knew how severe my dehydration was. I looked ahead, and noticed a trail of footprints leading into the forest. I'm not the only survivor I thought, almost with a sense of relief."Hello?" I called out. I waited a moment or two, but didn't receive any form of response. I forced myself to get up once again, and limped over to the forest. I squinted my eyes, and tried to make out any form of human trespassing as I peered into the dark area. The footprints seemed to fade off as they abandoned the sand of the beach, which left me with no trail to follow. I grunted with frustration, and an overwhelming amount of anger and sadness bubbled up inside of me. I closed my eyes as my hands began to shake, and tears rolled down my face. I exploded with emotion, and let out an agonizing scream. The sound tore through my surroundings. Filled with fear and distress, my scream echoed through the trees. I felt defeated, hopeless, and isolated. My body collapsed, and I hit the ground with exhaustion.
DAY THREE
Help. That's all I can think about as I run through the forest. Ever since that voice woke me up, the voice that belonged to the Lieutenant General, I've been running in search of the plane crash. He's offering help, and guidance for any of the survivors out there. It's the first sign of hope I've seen since I've landed on this island, and I'm not going to deny an offer like that.I see a clearing in the trees ahead of me, and the last bit of adrenaline I have coursing through my body allows me to guide my injured self there. I place my hand on the trunk of the palm tree, and peer down onto the beach below. The sight of the plane wreck is horrendous. Burned portions are scattered everywhere, and the plane is pretty much completely destroyed. I shudder at the thought of the crash.
I see many people at the scene, and the sight provides me with a sense of relief. I'm not alone. I limp down towards the people, and I flash my eyes to every individual. I recognize a lot of them, and my stomach turns when I see some of their injuries. With the lack of food and energy, and the sight of all of the blood, I cant even imagine how pale my face must be. I need to sit down I think, and that's exactly what I do. I drop my face in my hands, and hope that good change is soon to come.
DAY FOUR
"Adrianna? is - is that you?" I heard someone say.I lifted my head up in response, and my eyes landed on Dr. Beatrice Black. I gasped as I remembered running into her at the airport before any of us had boarded the plane. I stood up, shakily, and tried my best to run over to her. Relief filled my body knowing that I had now seen a familiar face. Her eyes landed on my injured leg, which caused her eyes to widen and eyebrows to raise. However, I dismissed her thoughts with a wave of my hand. I wanted to be strong, I knew there were many other survivors who were much more injured than I was. That was definitely evident on my walk down to the crash yesterday. Her face still looked slightly worried, and I'm sure her mind was filled with medical assumptions and thoughts.
"Oh thank god!" I practically yelled when I reached her. As I put all of my weight on one leg, I quickly lost my balance, which resulted in me sitting back on the sand.
She looked down at me sympathetically, and a slight smile soon formed on her face.
"I can help" she simply stated.
DAY FIVE
I waited patiently on the shore of the beach, and stared out over the ocean. My legs were still tucked up against my chest, and I had my arms wrapped around them. The doctor should be back soon. She left to go search for materials in order to make a splint for my injured leg, and I couldn't be more thankful. Things seem to be coming together lately. Ryan Hounsome was able to bring many people together, and hopefully there aren't many people still out on their own. I feel a tap on my shoulder, and look up to see that Beatrice Black has returned from her trip."Thank you for doing this" I smile
"Its really no problem at all, I'm glad to be a help" she responds.
I look out to the water again as she applies the wood and other materials to my leg. I can almost instantly feel the support it gives my leg once she is finished. I placed my hands on either side of me, and pushed myself off of the ground. I braced myself, expecting jolts of pain to shoot throughout my body. However, I was surprised to know that only a dull ache was now present. I threw my hands in air and let out an enthusiastic yell.
"WOOHOO! ah yes this is great!" I said as I grinned broadly. Some of the other survivors glanced over in my direction with puzzled looks, and some of them chuckled. I didn't care, because good things finally seemed to be unraveling, and there's nothing wrong with bringing some optimism to this island.
DAY SIX
My body shook and convulsed uncontrollably. I jolted awake, and my panicked pulse was ringing in my ears. My skin was crawling with goosebumps, and my hands were incapable of being steadied. I stared at my hands as if they were strangers, and wondered what had caused me to wake up so suddenly.I turned my attention at the black abyss above, and allowed my eyes to travel to the brightest stars. My breathing eventually steadied, and I glanced around the beach only to realize that everyone else was still fast asleep. I closed my eyes, all in an attempt to relax myself, however my mind prevented me from doing so. My ears seemed to pick up the slightest of noises. Something felt off. My body was telling me I wasn't safe, however there was no evidence of anything threatening. I kept telling myself it was only a figment of my imagination, but at the same time I wanted to believe that that wasn't true. I rolled over onto my side, and begged for morning to arrive faster. My ears tuned into a loud cracking sound, which caused my stomach to drop with the sudden rush of nerves. Okay, I definitely didn't imagine that I thought. I held my breath, and fiddled with my thumbs nervously. My imagination filled my thoughts with frightening scenarios that I didnt want to believe, so I turned my head in search of the source of the noise. However, I was only greeted by the infinite darkness of the forest.
DAY SEVEN
I somehow made it through the night without losing my mind. I wasn't able to sleep for hours. I watched both the sunset, and the sunrise. When some of the other survivors began waking up, I decided it was a good time to get myself up as well. I needed to be productive. My injured leg and running thoughts have really held me back since we got here, so I told myself that this was going to be the day things would change. The splint on my leg offered constant support, so that was one less problem I had to worry about. However, its my mind that has been constantly distracting me. How are people not going crazy here? Isnt everyone wondering the same thing? Will we be getting saved?I really needed to clear my mind from any negative thoughts, so I walked down to the water's edge. The waves crashed down before me and erupted in a mist of white foam. Most people in society would consider the sound of the ocean as one of the most relaxing sounds out there. Before this whole plane crash, I wouldn't have even hesitated to agree to that statement. However, the sound now seemed to almost taunt me. Every movement of the water reminded me of how isolated and alone we truly were. After all, isn't it the ocean that is keeping us trapped here on this island? Stop it, think positively I told myself. I sighed, and turned around to head back to the group of survivors. Hopefully we would increase our chances of surviving and get saved, but for now all I could do was help others, and keep myself distracted.
DAY EIGHT
I laid on my back, and my arms were crossed behind my head. The ocean water gently swept accross my feet with every oncoming wave. I stared at the sunset, patiently dreading the long and sleepless night that was soon to come. I closed my eyes, and hoped for sleep, but knew that the attempt would only fail. However, my eyes remained shut. I tried my hardest to not let horrible ideas enter my mind, but even if they did, my thoughts were eventually interrupted with something bumping against my foot. At first, I thought nothing of what it was, but with the next wave, the object was pushed into my foot once again. I opened my eyes out of curiosity, and my gaze fell onto a bottle.I quickly sat up and grabbed it before the tide could carry it back out to sea. It was closed with a cork, and inside it contained a rolled up piece of paper. It seemed as though the message in the bottle came right out of a movie, and I wasted no time in opening it. I pulled the paper out, and slowly unraveled it. My mouth dropped open with utter surprise. It was a newsletter, and the front headline consisted of an article about the plane crash. Our plane crash. My heart began to beat faster. What did this mean? Why would someone put this in a bottle and send it out to sea? I desperately needed to show the others.
DAY NINE
A passenger jet departed
out of Miami International
Airport early last week.
However, it was soon declared
as a missing plane once all
communication was mysteriously
cut off. Search parties were sent
out early the next morning,
but no signs of the flight
were discovered until three days
later. Wreckage and debris was
found over seventy miles away from
any land mass. Officials are still
unsure of what caused the crash,
but it has been confirmed that
there are no survivors. All
rescue parties have since
been called off.
I rolled up the newspaper article, and delicately placed it back into the glass bottle. My expression was evident of complete shock. The governments and media are lying to the public about what happened to us. Everyone thinks we are dead. My family thinks I am dead. All recue parties have been called off. That single line burns up any last bit of hope I might still have been holding onto. We aren't going to get rescued, and the entire world doesn't know the truth.
DAY TEN
Tears stream down my face as I run up to my mother and she squeezes me with a hug."I thought I lost you" she whispers, as her voice cracks from emotion. I don't respond, I am at a complete loss for words. I never thought I would see her again, but yet here I am now. I never want to leave her arms, and she doesn't let me go. At this moment, I can truly say I am relieved. I made it, I'm home, and I'm safe.
I blink my eyes open, and squint from the intense sunlight. My face is stained from tears, and my stomach drops when I feel the sand beneath me. I feel like screaming and crying all at the same time, but I remain motionless on the beach. The dream felt so feel, and it almost seems like I can still feel the warmth from her hug. I clutch the glass bottle to my chest, and take deep breaths. I finally gain enough motivation to move myself from the ground, and I begin walking. My mind is racing with thoughts and memories. My right hand is still tightly wrapped around the bottle as I march right up to the center of camp. Some people glance in my direction, I pop the cork off of the bottle, and pull out the piece of paper.
DAY ELEVEN
My mind races as I reread the article over and over. There is nothing I can do that will change this. My family and friends have all probably read it by now, so from now on I will only be known as dead to them. There is no way for me to send them the good news that there have been survivors. I can’t tell them that I have somehow kept myself alive on a stranded island, and I can’t tell them I will be returning home safely. I can’t even tell myself that.I’m here stuck on this island, wishing to only be reunited with my loved ones. Yet somehow, my family is stuck in society, only wishing to be reunited with me. Who is the real isolated one? Because without them, I am truly detached from my happiness.
Why is it so difficult for me to think positively? Almost as quickly as I ask myself that question, the answer dawns on me. I cannot think positive thoughts when my life feels so empty.
DAY TWELVE
I decided I needed to go for a walk through the island to clear my mind. I walked along the shore, allowing my feet to slip into the water as the waves rushed onto the sands. I glanced up, and noticed some of the other survivors ahead of me. A girl was asleep on the ground, and a yound man stood nearby. I approached the guy, and mimicked his glare over the vast ocean."The ocean is so big" I said. He glanced over at me, and we talked about how difficult it was going to be to get off of the island. I personally knew it wasn't possible to leave. He introduced himself to me as Grant, and I responded by introducing myself as well. A thought soon dawned on him.
"can I ask you a question?" he said upfront.
"sure" I replied
"What are your thoughts on Ryan Hounsome?" he asked. That caught me off-guard. What did I think of Ryan Hounsome? I repeated his question in my mind, and really searched for my true answer.
"Well..." I began "I'm definetly a little suspicious of him. How can anyone not be? He seems to have everything perfectly organized, and that just doesn't make sense in my mind. We experienced a severe, unfortunate event. We're lucky to be alive! No one can keep everything in order after a situation like that, and after all of the talk i've heard about that guy Wrennyn, I don't know what to think. I guess I don't know enough about him to make assumptions" I said innocently.
His question really made me think. Are all of the survivors trustworthy?
DAY THIRTEEN
Grant and I continued our conversation, and soon another girl came over to stand with us. Grant leaned down to kiss her on her head. They obviously had something going on between the two of them, and seeing their affection towards each other only clarified the fact that they were caring people. That provided me with a sense of trust towards them. After denying Grant's offer to go surfing, I was left alone with the other girl. We introduced ourselves to each other, and I learned that her name was Jackie.She had such a pleasant attitude, and it felt so nice to finally socialize with another girl. She too seemed very curious about my opinion of the Lieutenant, and soon asked
"So Adrianna, sorry for being so blunt, but I just got to ask. If shit hits the fan on this island, are you going to side with Hounsome?"
I paused, and thought her question over. I explained my feelings and suspicions to her, just like how I explained them to Grant earlier. As the words left my mouth, I couldn't help but wonder if Jackie and Grant felt the same way about him. What if they disagreed?
Eventually Grant finished surfing, and came back over to us. He gave us questioning looks, obviously curious about what we were talking about. Jackie's eyes darted to mine, and each of us responded to Grant with innocent smiles.
"Oh nothing, just girl talk, ya know" Jackie said
I definitely have a good feeling about these two, unlike some of the impressions the others give me.
DAY FOURTEEN
Grant, Jackie and I stayed on the beach for a while. We spent most of our time getting to know each other. The more I found out about these two, the more I realized how comfortable I was with them. I found out that Grant was also from Miami, he even lived in an area around my home. I tried thinking back to before the plane crash, and wondered if we ever crossed paths. I didn't think so.Jackie went on to explain how she grew up in Hawaii. She talked about her move to Colorado, and her family.
I didn't say much about myself, only talked about my hobbies and trips I've been on in the past. I avoided talking about my family. Ever since being on the island, that topic was too hard for me to think about.
Throughout our entire discussion, questions filled my mind regarding their opinions of the other survivors. The conversation we had seemed to be a relief from reality for the two of them. They seemed to be able to forget our present situation and uncertainties when they reminisced about the things they loved. I hesitated to ask them anything that would draw them back to their senses, since the both of them appeared so uplifted. I didn't want to ruin that for them. I decided I would ask when a better time came.
DAY FIFTEEN
I awoke to the sound of Jackie's movement. She was mumbling some things to herself, something was clearly wrong. I sat up, and wiped my exhausted eyes. She noticed I was awake, but that didn't stop her from hiding the concern in her face. She answered my thoughts before I even had time to notice that Grant was missing. Her determination to find him was clearly evident, and she immediately formed a plan."I am going out into the forest that leads to the little island, you can take the other half. We need to find him as fast as possible and this is the quickest way to do it." she said in a rush.
With that statement, she turned and headed in the direction of the island she was going to search. I remained sitting in the sand with a puzzled expression. Due to just waking up, it took my mind a minute to comprehend what was happening.
If Grant was leaving somewhere, he would have told us. Right? I thought to myself. I quickly stood up, and began jogging in the opposite direction from Jackie. She had good reasoning. Both of us searching different areas would cover more land in less time. If Grant was in trouble, and something dangerous happened to him, wouldn't it be bad to split up? My mind continued to wander, as did I, as I searched for Grant.
I put both of my hands around my mouth and called out his name. My voice echoed around me, loud enough for me to realize that maybe yelling wasn't the best idea. Who knew what kind of people or creatures shared these woods with me.
The uncertainty of Grant's situation caused me to quicken my pace. I ran through the forest, dodged trees, and used them to push myself onward. I heard strange noises that I couldn't identify come from some of my surroundings. I could tell they were distant, but whatever created them had to be large enough to allow me to hear them from this far. Whatever it was, it didn't worry me. My only priority right now was to make sure we were all okay, and that needed to start with finding Grant.
DAY SIXTEEN
Step by step, Grant and I snuck through the forest. My eyes scanned my surroundings, and I carefully calculated each spot I placed my feet. Our movements were soft and quiet, perfectly synced in order to lessen our chances of being seen. The woods were a breeding ground for problems. Someone could be around the corner at any moment, and the recent disappearance of many survivors made me wary of others. Something was obviously at blame for such a fast increase of deaths.Grant motioned to me with his hands. We had an unspoken understanding between us that our voices could blow our cover at any moment. With that, we only communicated with whispers and body language.
A scream rippled through the air around us, as if it came right out of a nightmare. The poor girl that the scream belonged to begged for mercy. Her shrieking pleas caused my stomach to twist in knots, and Grant's body to tense. After exchanging questioning looks, he snuck in the direction of sound. I crouched down, and watched as he peered through a nearby bush. His body froze, and fear and curiosity took over mine. I made my way over to him, but his focus remained locked onto whatever was beyond the bush. My presence startled him.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you" I exclaimed, my voice barely a whisper.
His words came out in a rush. As he spoke, my eyes focused to the scene behind him. A young girl's body littered the ground, her identity unrecognizable.
“You scared the living shit out of me. Look we have to move now, this girl was murdered on the other side of these bushes, and we have to get out of here… unless you want to be next?” Grant replied.
I peered around me, no corner of the forest looked safe.
"That way" I said, as I pointed in a direction where the trees seemed less dense. Grant followed behind me.
The forest was immensely quiet. The silence was deafening, and so unusual that it almost seemed unnatural. The memory of the girl's scream rang in my mind. It played on constant repeat, and I cringed every time the image of her body surfaced in my thoughts.
We continued heading in the same direction, increasing the distance between the abandoned crime scene and our backs. The trees slowly began to clear, however they were still dense enough to conceal us. From where we crouched, we were given a perfect vantage point.
A lump formed in my throat.
"Grant..." My voice quivered as I said his name.
I raised my hand, and extended my forefinger, pointing in the direction of which we came. His eyes followed my hand, and landed on a dark, cloaked figure in the distance. The figure's back was turned to us, but a large notebook could be seen at it's side. It was at the scene of the dead girl.
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DAY SEVENTEEN (DECEASED)
I looked down at my hands as I held them in front of me. Confusion masked my face with each examine I made of my hands. I turned them over, and back again.Well this is odd I thought. I stood up and began walking in the direction of the beach, ever since today, its felt as if a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. Actually, this is the best I've felt in a long long time. When I finally reached the ocean, I paused, and stretched out my arms as I inhaled the refreshing scent of salt water, and as wind blew my hair. I sighed a satisfied sigh, and made my way into the water. I bent over and dipped my hands into the waves, but soon my face turned cross. I scrubbed my hands repeatedly, but the appearance of them never changed. My hands were hint lighter than the Miami-tan i was used to having, but they looked healthy as ever. All of the scars and scratches i received at the island had mysteriously vanished, and my skin seemed to glow with health.
I shook my head, and convinced myself that it was all apart of my imagination. After all, looking and feeling healthy definitely isn't a bad thing.
I cupped my hands together, and scooped up the cool ocean water. I closed my eyes, brought my hands to my face, and anticipated the refreshing water to cleanse my skin. Soon enough, i heard a light splash as the water left my hands. I opened one eye and looked down out of curiosity. My hands were still cupped, but i haven't yet brought them all the way to my face yet.
I bent down once again, and scooped up some more water. The water remained in my grasp for a short time, but after a few seconds, it seemed to magically fall right through my flesh, and back into the ocean.
Okay i'm obviously not imagining this I said to myself.
I took a step back from the water, and looked down at the rest of my body. My skin resembled the healthy glow of my hands. What caused this change?
DAY EIGHTEEN (DECEASED)
I needed to talk to Grant to see if he was experiencing things similar to me. I walked back up to the tree where Grant and I were, but something caught my attention. Engraved in the bark of the tree was my name, and beside the tree was Grant's surfboard, also engraved. Seeing the markings troubled me, I didn't write that, and I knew Grant didn't either. Besides, they almost appeared to resemble a memorial, as if we were being honored or remembered. That's when it clicked. That's why I appeared and felt so much healthier. It all made sense now.I'm dead.
I dropped down to my knees and anticipated the tears and emotion to come flooding out of me, but those raw feelings never came. I felt as if I were supposed to feel that way, but something was preventing me. Is it true that pain and suffering are absent after death? I got off of my knees and sighed. Where was Grant then?
In the distance, between the trees that made up the forest, I saw a small sliver of light. It was blinding, and I was forced to squint and use my hand to shield myself from the intense glow. I took a step towards it, and it began to shimmer. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, I couldn't resist walking closer to it.
It appeared to be suspended in the air, and when I finally reached the light, it expanded. My surroundings and I were engulfed by the immense glow, and when I looked up, everything had changed. I was no longer on the island, but rather a place much more beautiful.
DAY NINETEEN (DECEASED)
My mouth hung open in awe. I was surrounded by beautiful structures and beautiful people. Everyone appeared so happy, and I gotta say, i felt ecstatic. I assumed this place was heaven, and I felt a sudden urge to run around and explore each and every corner of this place. I took one step forward, slightly hesitant due to the number of faces turning in my direction. I could hear whispers among the people."Look its someone new" A man bent down and said to a woman.
"Isn't she from the island?" two girls gossiped.
"Welcome" a voice much closer to me said. I was pulled back to my senses and focused my eyes on the individual in front of me. Oh wow I thought. I adjusted my eyes slightly upward, and locked eye contact with an angel. The young woman floated in front of me, her large majestic white wings supporting her every moment. They slowly opened and closed with such power and beauty, and in the hands of the angel was a large golden book.
"Hello" I said shyly, with a hint of confusion in my voice.
"Welcome to heaven" the angel smiled "My name is Diem. I am here to guide you" she explained. Her voice was so soothing and motherly, and I instantly felt safe in her presence.
I smiled a shy childish smile "My name is-"
"Oh I know who you are sweetheart. Don't worry, heaven has big plans for you. Ill show you around"
Diem wrote something down in the large book, and held her hand out for me to grab it. It was time to adjust to living the lavish Heaven lifestyle.
DAY TWENTY (DECEASED)
Diem guided me through the white stoned roads of heaven. No matter where we were, or who was surrounding us, I couldn't help but notice the faces turning in my direction. I would be lying if I said it didn't bother me, I wasn't used to all the attention, but I tried my hardest to just focus on what Diem showed me."Don't worry about them hun, they're just curious that's all" She said, with a reassuring smile. I nodded my head slightly in response, although still a little uncomfortable. We walked, or flew in Diem's case, to the center of what appeared to be a plaza. A large sparkling white fountain occupied the middle, and small groups of people were seen socializing. I assumed this to be center of town.. in heaven. I was still trying to wrap the whole concept of heaven around in my mind, it was such an awestruck place, it took my breath away, but i couldn't get over how lifelike it seemed. I felt as if i had only traveled abroad and surrounded myself in a new culture, not died.
On the opposite side of the fountain was a large building. Its walls were lined with white marble columns, and large stairs lead up to its entryway. It appeared to be a building of importance, and the grand doors shielded my eyes from seeing what we beyond the walls. I stared at the building as Diem continued rattling off information about the people, but soon she stopped me. We faced the building, our feet at the bottom of the stairs, and she turned to face me.
"Now Adrianna" she stated, with a much more serious tone "This building is where I leave you. You have a very big decision to make in there, and if you decide to leave, you must promise me to never speak of what you have seen here today. If you decide to stay, I look forward to seeing you again. I hope my business with you will help make the decision process easier, good luck" She finished with a tiny smile, but I didn't miss the worried look she had beforehand.
My stomach turned in knots as I turned toward the building and took my first step. I had no idea what laid before me, and i had no idea what i was getting myself into. But as i climbed the stairs, Diem's words from earlier repeated over and over again in my mind.
Heaven has big plans for you